Last night I did something that no worker in my company should ever do.

Stay the night with the patient.

To my great surprise I woke up this morning with an arm draped over my chest.

Toko I was next to me on her mattress and was sleeping contently.

I immediately jumped up and rushed to the bathroom, being ever so careful not to wake the resting girl.

I splashed cold water on my reddened face and contemplated what I should do.

Either I stayed and admitted we had slept together (not in that way of course) or leave and pretend nothing happened.

The right choice wasn't the one I wanted to choose but I knew I needed to leave. I walked back into the main room and walked over to Toko.

"I'll see you later, rest well." I whispered and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She immediately smiled in her sleep and sighed deeply.

I hope I'm able to do that when she's conscious one day...
_________________________________

Later that afternoon I came back to the apartment at our normal meeting time, I could tell she was in a good mood.

"What's got you so excited?" I asked her.

"I took my pills this morning all by myself! And I had the most wonderful dream!" She clapped her hands joyously.

"What did you dream about?"

"A gallant knight in shining armor came to save me from an old rotting castle. He slept beside me and kissed my forehead, but he disappeared and then I woke up." She finished sadly.

I blushed recalling that a large portion of that wasn't a dream.

"You're like the knight from my dream." She continued on. "You're kind and you help me and rescued me from this place. I was drowning in guilt and misery before you came."

"I'm happy to help you."

"Byakuya. You didn't just help me...you saved my life." She made direct eye contact with me.

"I-"

"But I've been feeling so good these past few weeks I haven't been needing you to help me much anymore..."

"Toko I-"

"I guess I just wanted to keep you here huh? You should go help your next client. I'm all better and don't need the assistance anymore." She finished her ramble with tears in her dull purple eyes.

"Toko, I stayed for a reason. You weren't the only one who needed help."

"What do you mean?"

"I stayed because I need you."

She sat up straight from her slouching position and widened her eyes.

"H-how? In what way to you need me?!" She exclaimed, clearly baffled.

"I think, I think I may be in love with you." I whispered.

"What. did. you. say." She got up and grasped my shoulders tightly.

"I- I'm in love with you Toko, I need you more than you need me. And I'm sorry for being like this!" I cried, not used to wearing my heart on my sleeve.

She smiled and started to cry with me.

"It's funny huh, one person can really change your life. You changed mine, but never got a true reward. Tsk tsk, let's fix that."

The author leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on my lips, as I trembled in her presence.

"Shh it's okay, this time I've got your back." She hugged me.

"Oh, and by the way...I'm in love with you too silly boy."